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WASHINGTON, D.C.  The Department of Justice announced today that the South
Dakota Real Estate Commission, in response to an investigation by the Department's Antitrust
Division, has rescinded two rulings that prohibited South Dakota real estate brokers from
offering rebates, inducements, and other discounts to consumers. The Commission advised the
Department of its action in a letter received today.

The Commission voted unanimously, on June 30, 2005, to repeal, cancel, and nullify the
Commission's Declaratory Rulings 93-1 and 03-01. Subsequently, the Commission notified all
South Dakota real estate brokers that they now are free to offer commission rebates, incentives,
and other discounts to buyers and sellers. In its letter, the Commission assured the Department
that the "South Dakota Real Estate Commission will refrain from instituting any kind of
prohibition that would ban licensees from offering rebates and inducements."

"The rescission of the Commission's rulings is a good result for South Dakota's
consumers of real estate brokerage services," said Thomas O. Barnett, Acting Assistant Attorney
General in charge of the Department's Antitrust Division. "These consumers can expect to
benefit from increased competition through broker-offered rebates, incentives, and discounts.
We are pleased that the Commission took quick action to address the competition issues raised
during the Division's investigation."

Since early June 2005, the Department's Antitrust Division has been investigating the
Commission's rulings, which prevented South Dakota brokers from competing with each other
for buyers and sellers of real estate services by offering rebates, discounts, and other incentives.